Word Origin & History

plug 1627, originally a seamen's term, probably from Du. plug, from M.Du. plugge "bung, stopper," related to Norw. plugg, Dan. pløg, M.L.G. pluck, Ger. pflock, ultimate origin uncertain. Sense of "wad or stick of tobacco" is attested from 1728. Electrical sense is from 1883; meaning "sparking device in an internal combustion engine" is from 1886. The verb meaning "to close tightly (a hole), to fill" is first recorded 1630. Meaning "advertisement" first recorded 1902, perhaps from verb sense "work energetically at" (c.1865). The noun sense of "advertisement" is from 1902, Amer.Eng. The verb ...meaning "to popularize by repetition" is from 1906. Slang verb sense "to put a bullet into" is recorded from 1870. Plug-ugly "ruffian" is first attested 1856, originally in Baltimore, from plug, Amer.Eng. slang for the stovepipe hats then popular among young men.